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Lance Armstrong was pretty slick, or, more accurately: slimy

IN October, after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said cyclist Lance Armstrong had cheated while winning seven Tour de France titles, Armstrong issued a statement saying he would end his long fight against USADA. “Today I turn the page,” he said. “I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances.”

Turns out that was just another lie for Armstrong, because just three months later, he sat down with Oprah Winfrey and admitted he had used performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) throughout his career. Armstrong joins a long list of athletic frauds, men and women who have excelled not solely by honing their athletic gifts, but by using chemicals that help them grow stronger and recover more quickly after workouts and injuries. But his case is different for a few reasons.

One is his status as a cancer survivor. We were uplifted by this slim Texan beating cancer and then humbling those snooty Europeans by winning the most grueling bike race on the planet. We couldn't wait to get our hands on the yellow wristbands that support his Livestrong Foundation dedicated to cancer research. What a story!

What also sets Armstrong apart from other cheats is his serial lying and his unrelenting efforts to smear those who might wonder how it is that he managed to be so successful — cleanly — in a sport rife with performance-enhancing drugs. After USADA issued its report in October outlining the vast drug operation carried out by Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team, Armstrong said, “At every turn, USADA has played the role of a bully, threatening everyone in its way and challenging the good faith of anyone who questions its motives or its methods ...”

Armstrong would know. He labeled as vindictive or jealous or liars any former teammates or associates who testified about his use of PEDs. He was quick to use lawsuits and bullying to try to muzzle naysayers and keep the charade afloat. Former U.S. cycler Greg LeMond incurred Armstrong's wrath in 2001. LeMond, a three-time winner of the Tour de France, said he was disappointed to hear Armstrong was associated with an Italian doctor who was accused of being involved in doping. Not long after, LeMond had lost his bike sponsor — Armstrong had the same one. LeMond says Armstrong called him that summer to tell him he could find 10 people who would swear that LeMond used performance-enhancing drugs when he raced.

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The Oklahoman Editorial Board consists of Gary Pierson, President and CEO of The Oklahoma Publishing Company; Christopher P. Reen, president and publisher of The Oklahoman; Kelly Dyer Fry, editor and vice president of news; Christy Gaylord...